Chocolate and cherry are a popular favor combination. Not just during the holidays but any time of year. These frosted chocolate cherry almond bars are great for a snack, dessert, game day or lunch box treat.

They would also be nice on a holiday dessert tray or buffet during the holidays. You may have seen that YumGoggle sponsored #ChristmasCookiesWeek so we thought we’d take the opportunity to share a couple of full recipes. Did you see the gorgeous pistachio cranberry macarons earlier this week? If not, you need to check them out.

So, now a little bit about this recipe. It is, quite possibly, the easiest recipe you will ever make. 3 ingredients for the cake and 4 for the frosting. It’s really interesting how a cake mix and a can of cherry pie filling becomes a dessert. But it does and it’s delicious. I’m not even going to try to speculate on the science behind it. While the flavor would be fine as is, I thought adding some almond extract would elevate the flavor. It’s subtle but you can recognize it.

These frosted chocolate cherry almond bars are moist and delicious with a slightly sweet frosting. The frosting sets up in a couple of hours. These bars keep well for a couple of days if they last that long.

 

Yield: 28 bars

Frosted Chocolate Cherry Almond Bars

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Frosted chocolate cherry almond bars are full of chocolaty goodness.

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 package Devil's food cake mix
• 1 can (21 ounces) cherry pie filling
• 1 teaspoon almond extract

Chocolate Frosting

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup milk
• 5 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 9 x 13" pan with baking spray with flour.
2. In a medium bowl coming all ingredients and mix until all of the cake mix is moistened. Spread batter into prepared baking pan.
3. Bake for 25 - 30 minutes until top springs back when touched. Make chocolate frosting and spread over warm cake.
4. Cut into bars for serving.

Chocolate Frosting

1. Combine sugar, milk and butter in saucepan. Bring to a boil and boil for one minute, stirring constantly. 
2. Remove from heat and stir in chocolate chips until melted. 

 

#ChristmasCookiesWeek Friday Recipes

• Chocolate-Dipped Almond Biscotti by House of Nash Eats
• Andes Mint Cookies by Daily Dish Recipes
• Brownie Cookies by Books n’ Cooks
• Bubble Light Sugar Cookies by A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
• Chocolate Cutout Sugar Cookies by Everyday Eileen
• Chocolate Dipped Chocolate Madeleines by Family Around The Table
• Christmas Ornament Cookies by Karen’s Kitchen Stories
• Christmas Tree Meringue Cookies by The Redhead Baker
• Classic No Bake Cookies by Corn, Beans, Pigs & Kids
• Eggnog Snickerdoodle Cookies with Eggnog Glaze by Love and Confections
• Figgy Pudding Thumbprints by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
• Frosted Chocolate Cherry Almond Bars by YumGoggle
• Cream Cheese Buttons with a Dark Chocolate Drizzle by Kate’s Recipe Box
• Gingerbread Cookie Stars by The Freshman Cook
• Holiday Lights Sugar Cookies by Palatable Pastime
• Lemon Snowdrops by Jolene’s Recipe Journal
• Merry Moose Cookies by Strawberry Blondie Kitchen
• Not Your Grandma’s Sugar Cookies by Girl Abroad
• Ooey, Gooey Gingerbread Bars by Culinary Adventures with Camilla
• Pecan Shortbread Trees by Red Cottage Chronicles
• Perfectly Soft Chocolate Chip Cookies by Tip Garden
• Peppermint Meltaway Cookies by Soulfully Made
• Sour Cream Cookies by Grumpy’s Honeybunch
• Sour Cream Cut Out Cookies by A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Spiced Chocolate Cut Out Cookies with Marble Glaze by The Baking Fairy
• Sweet Potato Pie Cookies by Kelly Lynn’s Sweets and Treats
• Whoville Christmas Wreath Sugar Cookies by Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice

This post is sponsored on behalf of #ChristmasCookiesWeek. The generous sponsors, YumGoggle, Sprinkle Pop, Silpat and Adams Extracts have provided us with products for recipe creation and a giveaway for our readers. As always, all opinions are my own.

 

Thank you to Ellen at Family Around the Table and Christie at A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures for hosting #ChristmasCookiesWeek. YumGoggle is proud to be a sponsor!

 

Prize Package #1:

 

From Adams Extracts comes a selection of baking delights including their prize-winning pound cake mix, pure vanilla extract, pure peppermint extract, double strength pure vanilla extract, pound cake flavor extract and vanilla cinnamon sugar.

 

Adams traces its beginnings back to Battle Creek, Michigan, when John A. Adams began making and selling his Green Plant Sarsaparilla extract, Adamur, in 1888. In 1905, he moved his family to Beeville, TX. At the time, most vanilla was sold to pharmacies and was often labeled “Do not bake or freeze.” John A. Adams, whose imagination was stirred by his wife’s yearning for a flavoring that wouldn’t bake or freeze out, announced that he could produce a better vanilla than the one his wife was currently using. Working with just $6.71 worth of materials on top of an old icebox, John A. Adams discovered the formula he wanted.

 

Prize Package #2:

 

YumGoggle is giving away a variety of holiday and Christmas cookie cutters. The winner of this prize package will receive a sleigh, large ornament and two cookie cutter sets. The first is a mug/ sweater set called Ugly Sweater Specialty Cookie Cutter Set and the second is a Santa/ reindeer set called North Pole Specialty Cookie Cutter Set. Each set includes 2 cookie cutters, 2 templates, 2 instruction cars and 4 bonus templates.

 

The YumGoggle gallery features food photography from contributors around the world. If you’re looking for a recipe, chances are you’ll find it on YumGoggle. The photos not only whet your appetite but you can easily find the recipes by clicking the photo.

 

Prize Package #3:

 

The winner of this Sprinkle Pop prize package will get their choice of 3 sprinkle varieties, at $35.00 value. Winner will be contacted by or need to contact Sprinkle Pop for fulfillment.

 

Sprinkle Pop offers trendy sprinkle mixes that you won’t find anywhere else. Fun fact: Over 50% of their sprinkle mixes are dyed in house, making each experience one of a kind. Sprinkle Pop also creates one of a kind confetti shapes that are unique to their mixes. Make every occasion a festive one with these fun sprinkle creations.

 

Prize Package #4:

 

One winner will receive an 11 5/8 inch x 16 1/2 inch Silpat® baking mat which is perfect for all of your cookie baking throughout the year. Reduces the need for parchment and is reusable.

 

The original silicone baking mat made from a dedicated silicone with reinforced fiberglass mesh. Nothing sticks to Silpat® which means you’ll spend less time cleaning and more time enjoying your baking creations. Silpat® replaces the need for butter, grease, oils, and sprays.

• Multi-purpose non-stick silicone baking and pastry mat.
• No cooking sprays, oils or parchment paper needed.
• Not to be used as a cutting surface.
• Can be used in the oven, microwave and freezer.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: Thank you #ChristmasCookiesWeek sponsors: Adams Extract, Sprinkle Pop, YumGoggle and Silpat for providing the prizes free of charge. The #ChristmasCookiesWeek giveaway is open to U.S. residents, age 18 & up. All entries for the winner will be checked and verified. By entering you give the right to use your name and likeness. The number of entries received determines the odds of winning. Four (4) winners will be selected at random from entries received. The prize packages will be fulfilled by and sent directly from the giveaway sponsors. #ChristmasCookiesWeek bloggers are not responsible for the fulfillment or delivery of the prize packages. Bloggers hosting this giveaway and their immediate family members in their household are not eligible to enter or win the giveaway. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter or any other social channel mentioned in the #ChristmasCookiesWeek posts or entry.